Vapor electric apparatus.



No. 770,109. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904. M.. VON REGKLINGHAUSEN.

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 001x17, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

MAX VON RECKLINGHAUSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEWITTELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

vVAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,109, datedSeptember 13, 1904.

Application filed October 1'7, 1903- To a. whom it may concern.

' Be it known that I, MAX VON REOKLING- HAUSEN, a subject of the Emperorof Germany, and a resident of New York, county of New York, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VaporElectric Apparatus, of which the following is.

' ing the apparatus in such a way that the major portion of thecondensation flows directly back to the generating positive electrode,while the excess from the negative electrode is condensed in such a wayas to flow back into all of the positive-electrode receptacles andfinally overflow into the negative-electrode receptacle. These resultsare accomplished by providing each of the positive electrodes with aseparate condensing-chamber having such relation to the electrode as toreceive the vapor emanating from the said electrode and to return thecondensed vapor to the said electrode. The negative electrode is locatedsomewhat lower than the several positive electrodes, (in the case of avapor-lamp it is located considerably lower,) so that when the positiveelectrode receptacles are filled an overflow will take place from thepositive electrodes to the negative, thereby restoring normalconditions. In general also the negative electrode will be so placed asto be at an intermediate point between the positive electrodes, wherebythe excess of vapor which passes from the negative electrode will bepractically evenly distributed to the several condensing- $erial No.177,398. (No model.)

chambers. To prevent short circuits during the passage of mercury from apositive electrode to the negative electrode, the path between theseelectrodes may be provided with ridges so arranged as to cause themercury to pass along a zigzag or similar course, and thereby be brokenup into drops or balls of mercury instead of retaining a linear form.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation of a mercury-vapor lamp embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a similar illustration of a mercury-vapor converter. Fig. 3 isa plan of a modified form of apparatus, and Fig. 4 shows both in frontand side elevation a modified form of lamp.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 is a tube of glass or other transparentmaterial constituting the main body of a mercury-vapor lamp. The lampcontains two positive electrodes (shown at 2 and 3) and a singlenegative electrode, (shown at 4,) all these electrodes being of mercury.Above the electrode 2 is a condensingchamber 5, and above the electrode3 is a similar condensing-chamber 6. Suitable leadingin Wires 7, 8, and9 pass through the inclosing walls of the apparatus into contact withthe respective electrodes 2, 3, and 4:. The main body of the lamp isconnected by tubes 10 and 11 with the condensing-chambers 5 and 6,respectively, and also with the receptacles which contain the electrodes2 and 3. It will be noted that the tubes 10 and 11 are so inclined thatany overflow of mercury from the electrodes 2 and 3 will pass downwardand will ultimately find a place at the bottom of the tube 1, where itwill mingle with the mercury of the electrode 4.

The converter illustrated in Fig. 2 is prodirection is likely to bedistributed with practical evenness to both the condensing-chainbers.When condensation takes place, the vapors which have been carried upfrom the negative electrode and from the several positive electrodeswill fall first after condensation into the several positive electrodes,and any excess of condensation will flow over into the negativeelectrode. In this connection it is clear that the vapors arising fromthe positive electrode 2, for example, in Fig. 1 will pass into thecondensing-chamber 5, while the va pors rising from the positiveelectrode 3 will enter the condensing-chamber 6. In other words, thevaporization from each positive electrode passes into a singlecondensingchamber directly above the electrode without any tendency topass over into the condensingcharnber above the other electrode orelectrodes. Accordingly there is a practically even and uniform amountof condensation on each side of the apparatus which tends to prevent anydistortion of the normal conditions of supply for the severalelectrodes. The only disturbing feature would be a lack of uniformity inthe distribution of the vapor from the negative electrode; but this isprovided against by the location of the said electrode with relation tothe positive electrodes, as already described. Moreover, as eachpositive electrode is sure to receive back the condensation arising fromits own vaporization even this disturbance would correct itself, theoverflow simply passing back to the negative electrode.

Fig. 3 represents a converter having three positive electrodes (shown indotted lines at 17, 18, and 19) and three condensing-chambers,(appearing in full lines at 20, 21, and 22.) The negative electrodeappears in dotted lines at 23. The action is obvious.

In Fig. 4 the same construction is illustrated as that appearing in Fig.1, with the addition of an auxiliary positive electrode, appearing at24. This type of lamp is now well known, and the illustration is heregiven to show how my invention may be applied to lamps or convertershaving auxiliary elec- .trodes. provided With a smallcondensing-chamber,

The auxiliary electrode 24: is 'here the capacity thereof beingproportioned to the amount of vaporization which is likely to take placeat the said auxiliary electrode. Owing to the comparatively smallcurrents which pass through such auxiliary electrodes in practice, thecondensing-chamberconnected therewith need not have a very greatcapacity. It is evident that more than one auxa- I c iliary electrodemay be used, and in such case it is preferable to provide each suchelectrode with a separate condensing-chamber of suitable capacity.

By referring to the various figures of the drawings, and particularly tothe plan view appearing in Fig. 3, it will be seen that I provide ridgesor obstructions 25 25 in the bottom of the tubes corresponding to 10 and11 in Fig. 1 and that these ridges are so arranged as to cause themercury to flow in ziggag lines between either of the positiveelectrodes and the negative electrode. This precaution is less necessaryin connection witha lamp structure than with a converter, inasmuch asthe length of the tube 1 in the lamp is generally such that there wouldbe little or no danger of a continuous flow of mercury throughout thewhole length of the tube.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus havinga volatilizable negative electrode and two or more volatilizablepositive electrodes, a separate condensing-chamber for each positiveelectrode, in combination with inclined ducts leading from the severalpositive-electrode receptacles to the negative-electrode receptacle, andmeans for interrupting the continuity of the condensed fluid in passingfrom a positive electrode to the negative electrode.

2. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus having a volatilizable negativeelectrode and two or more volatilizable positive electrodes, a separatecondensing-chamber for each positive electrode, in combination withinclined ducts leading from the several positive-electrode receptaclesto the negative-electrode receptacle, and means for interrupting thecontinuity of the condensed fluid in passing from a positive electrodeto the negative electrode, such means consisting of ridges orobstructions so arranged as to give the fluid a zigzag course.

3. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus having a volatilizable negativeelectrode and two or more volatilizable positive electrodes, anauxiliary positive electrode, and separate condensing-chambers for theseveral positive electrodes, such chambers having capacitiesproportionate to the vaporization at the several electrodes.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 8th day of October, A. D. 1903.

MAX VON RECKLINGHAUSEN.

Witnesses:

WM. H. GAPEL, GEORGE H. STOOKBRIDGE.

